Concord developer buoyed by State of the State speech

Gov. Andrew Cuomo, in his State of the State message Wednesday, called for opening three casinos in upstate New York and none in New York City.

The state Legislature is expected this year to consider final passage of an amendment to the state constitution that would allow up to seven Las Vegas-style casinos beyond Indian land. If approved by lawmakers, voters would make a final decision during a statewide referendum in November.

Cuomo said he would propose a “phase one” plan, focusing on three upstate casinos. The governor said he wants to bring visitors from downstate and other states to upstate areas.

A gambling commission would pick the best locations and revenues would be split 90 percent for education and 10 percent for property tax relief.

One potential Ulster County casino developer came away feeling good about the remarks.

“It looks pretty positive from where I’m sitting,” said Nevele owner Michael Treanor, who was at the State of the State and has staked his development plans on opening a casino at the Nevele.

He said not having table games in New York City – at least initially – makes gambling prospects in the Catskills region that much stronger since that’ll be the closest full-scale gaming site for people in New York City and the lower Hudson Valley.

“Ulster and Sullivan counties are the first stops in Upstate New York,” Treanor said.

Another assumed casino player, Empire Resorts, said its plans for a $600 million resort at the Concord site in Sullivan County don’t depend on final passage of legalized gambling. Empire, which owns Monticello Casino & Raceway, is working with EPR Properties to build a new racino with more than 2,000 slots-like video gambling machines on the former Concord lands in Kiamesha Lake. The state has already passed revenue incentives to build a racino and resort at the Concord.

“Our focus is on creating over 1,000 good jobs as soon as possible in the Catskills,” Empire’s executive vice president, Charlie Degliomini, said.